Rocking Education with Rheumatoid Arthritis – Daisy Blunt

Many of us take for granted the comfortability we are allowed in our own bodies. We don’t have to think about how bending over, picking things up or other physical tasks might affect us regularly. For one who has Rheumatoid Arthritis though, the luxury of inconsequential movement is out the door. Which is why it’s so important to highlight those among us who thrive despite being diagnosed with this painful disability.

Daisy Blunt, who manages her rheumatoid arthritis while a studying at Black Hawk College, started her studies in 2024 when she had decided to pursue an associate’s degree of the fine arts after taking a break for a year after high school. She is involved in the arts at Black Hawk College through music and the visual arts, and is contemplating a career in education.

An interview with Daisy Blunt about Rheumatoid Arthritis

When were you first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and what was that moment like for you?

“I was diagnosed when I was 17 years old, and my symptoms started when I was 15. I went through about two years of not being diagnosed, with doctors running tests to try to figure out what I had. We thought it might be lupus or something else, and I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia for a while. When I was finally diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, it was actually a moment of relief for me. It meant I could go on real arthritis medication and finally get the relief I needed. The medication I was on beforehand didn’t help much, because you need a diagnosis to get the right treatment.”

How would you explain RA to someone who’s never heard of it before?

“RA is basically when your joints become raw and rub together. There’s a lot of swelling involved, and it’s very painful. Most people get RA in their fingers and hands, and sometimes their feet. It causes joints to swell, be painful to move and become very stiff.”

What’s one thing you wish people understood about RA that they often get wrong?

“I think most people actually know what RA is. In my mind, it’s kind of the most basic form of arthritis — when people think of arthritis, this is usually what they think of, rather than things like psoriatic arthritis that affect the skin too. At least among people I’ve met, there’s generally an understanding of what RA is.”

What does a “good day” with RA look like for you? What about a harder day?

“A good day looks like waking up stiff, with maybe some pain in my wrists and hands, but it gets better throughout the day with movement. By the end of the day, I still have pain, but it’s very manageable, and I can do everything I need to do. I’m an artist — I draw and paint a lot — so I’m constantly using my hands. A good day means I can do that without being in too much pain or feeling incapable. A hard day looks like waking up with stiffness and pain in more than just my wrists and fingers. It’s hard to move and get around, especially getting out of bed. Movement does help, but I’m much more fatigued, and everything hurts. I can’t lift things without pain, and sometimes when it’s really bad, I need help getting out of bed or being walked places by my mom. I don’t have days like that very often anymore now that I’m on medication.”

How does RA affect parts of your life people don’t usually see?

“It affects every part of my life. Showering is actually very difficult because I have to stand for long periods of time, which is hard on my knees and hips. Concerts and dancing are also really hard. I go to hardcore shows and pits, and in the moment, I can push through the pain and do what I love, but afterward I get extremely sore. Standing for long periods of time or doing very meticulous things with my hands can cause flare-ups. After concerts, I usually have to take a very hot shower because it helps my joints and just hope the next day isn’t too painful. A lot of the time, my pain isn’t visible. I hide it because I’m in pain every day, and it’s not realistic to show that constantly.”

What are some everyday tasks that have become more challenging since your diagnosis?

“Standing for long periods of time, showering, and doing things that require detailed hand movements are all more difficult. Even sitting in tight spaces can be painful because lack of movement makes everything worse.”

How has living with RA affected your mental or emotional health?

“It definitely affected it a lot. For a long time, especially before I was diagnosed, I didn’t tell people what I was going through. I wasn’t on proper pain medication, and I couldn’t go to school or do things on my own. My mom had to help me with everything, and I spent most days alone in bed. I was very lonely and very depressed. Now, I still get anxious and depressed during flare-ups because they remind me of that time. I also struggle with needing help — I don’t like being dependent on people, but I have to be sometimes. Losing that independence was really hard, especially because I was very independent before my symptoms started. I’m 21 now, and I’ve learned how to cope better. My mental health is much better than it was, but for a long time it was very difficult.”

Have you had to grieve any changes in your body or abilities?

“Yes. I was very flexible before I got RA. I did gymnastics when I was younger, and I loved hiking, rock, climbing, and outdoor activities. Now, my mobility is permanently limited in many joints. I can’t straighten my elbows all the way or bend my wrists past a certain point. Getting even that limited mobility back was extremely hard. I can’t do a lot of the things I used to love at the same level anymore. But losing that part of myself also made me realize what’s important in my life and what I truly value.”

What kind of support has meant the most to you from friends, family or community?

“The most meaningful support comes from people who understand what I can do on my own and where I actually need help. I appreciate people who pay attention and offer help when they see I’m struggling, without treating me like I’m helpless. It’s frustrating when people either don’t offer help at all or offer too much help without respecting my abilities.”

What does unhelpful support sometimes look like, even if it’s well-intentioned?

“Unhelpful support is help I don’t need — support that doesn’t respect what I’m capable of doing on my own. It’s important to maintain that sense of ability and independence.”

How can people better show up for someone living with a chronic illness?

“This might sound simple, but keeping an eye on them really matters. People with chronic illness often don’t talk about their pain and don’t ask for help, even when they need it. Watching for signs of stress or increased pain and being willing to step in can make a huge difference. That kind of awareness is really important in relationships with people who live with chronic pain.”

What advice would you give to someone newly diagnosed with RA?

“It will get better. Once you try different medications and find the one that works for you, staying consistent with medication and exercise is really important. If you do that, things will improve. Relying on others is also part of this. Learning how to ask for help, accept help and talk about what you’re going through has helped me the most.”

Is there anything else about your experience that you feel deserves more attention or understanding?

“Sometimes when I ask for help, people don’t take me seriously because I don’t talk about my RA very often. Even though my pain is manageable most days, I still live with it every single day. After concerts, for example, my joints hurt badly, and I need space to move and stretch. Sitting in tight spaces can make the pain much worse. When I ask for something as simple as more space or a different seat, it can turn into an argument, even though it makes a big difference for me physically. I wish people understood that just because I don’t talk about my illness all the time doesn’t mean it isn’t still affecting me.”